Microsoft Copilot course
Every Microsoft Copilot feature, explained
106 feature cards, checked as a whole on 30 October 2026: what each one does, what to use it for, which licence it needs and where it lives. Every card names the Microsoft pages it was checked against. The step-by-step lessons, with screenshots from a live account, are in the course.
Getting started
Copilot Chat on your work account
Secure AI chat grounded in the web and files you give it, under enterprise data protection when you sign in with a work account.
Use it for: Draft a notice or explain a policy without your prompts being used to train the models.
Beginner Copilot Chat (Basic), free with a work licence · Web, Desktop, Phone · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Enterprise data protection in Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft Learn); Copilot Chat FAQ (Microsoft Learn); Manage Microsoft Copilot Chat (Microsoft Learn)
Check your Copilot licence label
The label under your name on the Copilot home page tells you your tier: Copilot Chat (Basic), M365 Copilot (Basic) or Premium.
Use it for: Find out why a colleague's Copilot can answer from their inbox and yours can't.
Beginner All tiers on a work account · Web · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: What Copilot license do I have? (Microsoft Support); What is Microsoft Copilot? (Microsoft Learn)
The Copilot app
Copilot key and Win+C on Windows
Open Copilot from anywhere in Windows with the Copilot key or Windows key + C.
Use it for: Ask a quick question mid-spreadsheet without opening a browser.
Beginner Work or personal sign-in · Windows · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Manage Copilot on Windows (Microsoft Learn); Access Microsoft Copilot on Windows (Microsoft Support)
Option + Spacebar on a Mac
Open a small Copilot window from anywhere on a Mac.
Use it for: Check a phrase or draft a reply without leaving the document you're in.
Beginner Work or personal sign-in · Desktop · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Getting started with Copilot on macOS (Microsoft Support)
Copilot on your phone
The Microsoft Copilot app on iPhone, iPad and Android, with the Navigation icon for Search, Library, Agents and Notebooks.
Use it for: Prepare questions for a customer visit from the car park.
Beginner All tiers on a work account · Phone · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Install the Microsoft Copilot app on iPhone and iPad (Microsoft Support); Install and set up the Microsoft Copilot app on Android (Microsoft Support); Get started with the Microsoft Copilot mobile app (Microsoft Support)
Copilot in the Edge sidebar
Open Copilot beside the page you're reading in Edge; it can answer questions about the page and summarise pages and PDFs.
Use it for: Summarise a supplier's terms page while it's open.
Beginner Copilot Chat (Basic), free with a work licence · Edge · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Using Microsoft Copilot in Edge at work (Microsoft Support); Manage Microsoft Copilot Chat (Microsoft Learn)
Copilot Chat in Teams and Outlook
Open Copilot Chat inside Teams or Outlook without switching apps; in Outlook it can answer about your mail and calendar.
Use it for: 'When is my next one-to-one with my manager?' asked from Outlook.
Beginner Copilot Chat (Basic), free with a work licence · Teams, Outlook · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Get started with Copilot Chat in Teams (Microsoft Support); Chat with Copilot in Outlook (Microsoft Support); Microsoft Copilot Chat overview (Microsoft Learn)
New chat and chat history
Start fresh with New chat, reopen past chats under Chats, and rename, delete or move a chat to a notebook.
Use it for: Keep each customer's thread separate and easy to find.
Beginner All tiers on a work account · Web, Desktop, Phone · checked 31 October 2026
Temporary chat
A chat that doesn't use or store personalised information and doesn't appear in your history; your firm's retention may still keep it.
Use it for: A one-off question you don't want shaping later answers.
Beginner All tiers on a work account · Web, Desktop · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: How Copilot Chat history works (Microsoft Support); Copilot personalization and memory (Microsoft Learn)
Model picker: Auto, Quick response, Think deeper
Choose how Copilot answers. Auto picks for you; Quick response is faster; Think deeper takes longer. Claude and GPT models are listed too.
Use it for: Use Think deeper on a tricky comparison of two supplier quotes.
Beginner Every tier; named models vary by licence, and Anthropic models need an admin · Web, Desktop, Phone · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Microsoft Copilot Chat overview (Microsoft Learn); Get started with Copilot Chat (Microsoft Support)
Chat
Prompt Gallery and saved prompts
Browse ready-made prompts by task or job, and save your own prompts to reuse; saved prompts are visible only to you.
Use it for: Reuse the same announcement prompt every month.
Beginner All tiers on a work account · Web, Desktop · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Use Copilot Prompt Gallery with a screen reader (Microsoft Support); Save your favorite prompts to use again (Microsoft Support)
Prompt Coach
A Microsoft-built agent that teaches you to structure prompts for more precise answers.
Use it for: Turn a prompt that keeps missing into one worth saving.
Beginner With a Microsoft Copilot subscription · Web, Desktop · checked 31 October 2026
Citations and Sources
Hover a citation to open the source or ask about it, or open Sources to see every item an answer used.
Use it for: Check which email a payment-terms figure came from before approving invoices.
Beginner All tiers on a work account · Web, Desktop · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Control and review sources in Copilot Chat (Microsoft Support); What information does Copilot use to answer my prompt? (Microsoft Support)
Edit a prompt or Try again
Edit a prompt you've sent, or rerun it with the same model or another for a fresh answer.
Use it for: Rerun a question after spotting it used the wrong version of a contract.
Beginner All tiers on a work account · Web · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: What's new in Microsoft Copilot, August 2026 (Microsoft Tech Community); Use Copilot Prompt Gallery with a screen reader (Microsoft Support)
Rework one part of an answer
Highlight a sentence, paragraph or table in a response and prompt on only that part; the selection shows in the prompt before you send.
Use it for: Fix one wrong table in an otherwise good answer.
Beginner All tiers on a work account · Web · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: What's new in Microsoft Copilot, August 2026 (Microsoft Tech Community)
Thumbs up and down feedback
Rate an answer and describe what was wrong. At work your admin can view feedback, including your name.
Use it for: Flag an answer that relied on an unsigned draft.
Beginner All tiers; admins can turn it off · Web, Desktop, Phone · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Providing feedback about Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft Support)
Share a chat or response, and stop sharing
Send colleagues in your organization a snapshot of a chat or one answer, then stop sharing whenever you like.
Use it for: Let your manager see both sources behind a corrected figure.
Beginner All work accounts; admins can turn sharing off · Web · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Share conversations and responses in Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft Support); What's new in Microsoft Copilot, August 2026 (Microsoft Tech Community)
Upload a file to Chat
Attach up to 20 files a chat, 50 MB each, in PDF, Office, image or text formats, and ask about them.
Use it for: Compare a draft policy with the current handbook, section by section.
Beginner Copilot Chat (Basic), free with a work licence; standard access limits apply without a licence · Web, Desktop, Phone · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: File upload in Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft Support); Copilot Chat FAQ (Microsoft Learn)
Reference a file, person or meeting with /
Type / in the prompt box to point Copilot at a file, person or meeting by name.
Use it for: Ask about a delivery schedule already in OneDrive without re-uploading it.
Beginner All tiers on a work account · Web, Desktop · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Get started with Copilot Chat (Microsoft Support); Privacy and protections in Copilot Chat (Microsoft Learn)
Memory and custom instructions
Set standing preferences once, and review or delete what Copilot remembers about you.
Use it for: 'Use British English and HR terms in every answer.'
Beginner Preview Copilot Chat users, with or without a licence; admins can turn it off · Web, Desktop · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Copilot personalization and memory (Microsoft Learn); Custom instructions in Copilot Chat (Microsoft Support); Have Copilot remember things about you (Microsoft Support)
Outlook
Summary by Copilot
Reads a whole email thread and sums it up at the top, with numbered citations linking to each email.
Use it for: Catch up on a 31-reply customer thread before a call.
Beginner Microsoft 365 Copilot (Basic) or Premium · Outlook, Web, Phone · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Summarize an email thread with Copilot in Outlook (Microsoft Support)
Summarize a file
Sums up a PDF, Word or PowerPoint attachment without opening it. Documented for new Outlook and the web.
Use it for: Get the gist of a supplier's attached terms before deciding whether to read them in full.
Beginner Microsoft 365 Copilot (Basic) or Premium · Outlook, Web · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Summarize an email thread with Copilot in Outlook (Microsoft Support)
Draft with Copilot
Writes an email or reply from your description, then lets you change the length or tone.
Use it for: Draft a clear reply to an annoyed customer with the date and offer you give it.
Beginner Microsoft 365 Copilot (Basic) or Premium · Outlook, Web, Phone · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Draft an email message with Copilot in Outlook (Microsoft Support)
Coaching by Copilot
Gives feedback on a draft's tone, clarity and how the reader may take it. Needs 100 characters or more.
Use it for: Check a difficult reply doesn't sound sharper than you mean before sending.
Beginner Microsoft 365 Copilot (Basic) or Premium · Outlook, Web, Phone · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Get email coaching with Copilot in Outlook (Microsoft Support); Draft an email message with Copilot in Outlook (Microsoft Support)
Schedule with Copilot
Turns an email thread into a meeting invite with a suggested title, agenda and the thread's people as attendees.
Use it for: Book a follow-up call with everyone on a long supplier thread.
Beginner A Microsoft Copilot (work) licence · Outlook · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Create a meeting and agenda with Copilot in Outlook (Microsoft Support)
Prepare for this meeting
Shows prep notes at the top of a meeting. Summarised insights cover 1:1 meetings with related content.
Use it for: Get ready for a 1:1 with your manager in two minutes.
Beginner Listed for all Copilot users; summarised insights need an admin to enable Meeting Insights · Outlook, Web, Phone, Teams · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Prepare for your meeting with Copilot (Microsoft Support)
Prioritize my inbox
Marks new mail high or low priority using rules you set, with a short summary line for each message.
Use it for: See customer emails first after a busy morning.
Beginner Microsoft 365 Copilot (Basic) or Premium · Outlook, Phone · checked 30 October 2026
Inbox triage and rules in plain words
Move, delete, copy or categorise mail and manage rules by asking. It confirms before acting on more than five emails or changing rules.
Use it for: Move every newsletter into a Reading folder and make a rule for future ones.
Beginner Microsoft doesn't state a licence for this; check your screen · Outlook, Web, Phone · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Release notes for Microsoft 365 Copilot (Microsoft Learn); Create and view Outlook rules with Microsoft 365 Copilot (Microsoft Support)
Copilot Chat in Outlook
A chat beside your mail that answers questions about your inbox, calendar and meetings, and acts on them.
Use it for: Ask what you missed from a customer while you were away, and when you next meet them.
Beginner Any work account for mail, calendar and meetings; the paid licence adds chats and wider work data · Outlook, Web, Phone · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Chat with Copilot in Outlook (Microsoft Support); Microsoft Copilot Chat overview (Microsoft Learn)
Word
Draft in Word from your files
Writes a first draft from your description, using files you pick with /.
Use it for: Turn meeting notes and a cost sheet into a two-page proposal.
Beginner Microsoft 365 Copilot (Basic) or Premium · Word · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Draft and add content with Copilot in Word (Microsoft Support); The Copilot Dynamic Action Button in Word, Excel and PowerPoint (Microsoft Support)
Rewrite selected text
Rewrites the text you select, either with Auto Rewrite or the way you describe, and highlights the words it changed.
Use it for: Make one long paragraph in a supplier report shorter and plainer.
Beginner Microsoft 365 Copilot (Basic) or Premium · Word, Phone · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Edit content and rewrite with Copilot in Word (Microsoft Support); What's new in Microsoft Copilot, August 2026 (Microsoft Tech Community)
Document summary in Word
An automatic summary at the top of documents over 200 words saved in OneDrive or SharePoint.
Use it for: Get the gist of a long policy before a meeting about it.
Beginner A Microsoft Copilot (work) licence · Word, Phone · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Create a summary of your document with Copilot in Word (Microsoft Support)
Ask questions about a document
Answers questions about the open document, with references to where the answer came from.
Use it for: Find out what decisions a contract still needs before you sign it off.
Beginner Microsoft 365 Copilot (Basic) or Premium · Word · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Chat with Copilot about your Word document (Microsoft Support); Welcome to Copilot in Word (Microsoft Support)
Edit with Copilot (formerly Agent Mode)
Makes changes across a whole document with Track Changes on, and can add, read and reply to comments.
Use it for: Work through a reviewer's comments and tighten the summary, with every change visible.
Beginner Microsoft 365 Copilot (Basic) or Premium · Word · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Get started editing with Copilot in Office (Microsoft Support); Copilot in Word: new capabilities for document workflows (Microsoft Tech Community)
Citations in Word
Shows citations to the web and work content Copilot used, right in its reply.
Use it for: Trace every figure in a draft proposal back to the file it came from.
Beginner Microsoft 365 Copilot (Basic) or Premium · Word · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: What's new in Microsoft Copilot, September 2026 (Microsoft Tech Community); Draft and add content with Copilot in Word (Microsoft Support)
Windows, Edge and phone
Vision: share your screen or camera
In a voice chat, Copilot sees the screen, window or camera view you share and answers about it.
Use it for: Ask what a confusing spreadsheet screen is showing without describing it.
Beginner A Microsoft Copilot licence · Windows, Desktop, Phone · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Use Vision with Microsoft 365 Copilot (Microsoft Support)
Hey Copilot wake word
Start a voice chat by saying 'Hey Copilot' while the app is running. Off by default.
Use it for: Ask a quick question with your hands full.
Beginner Work, personal and free Copilot Chat accounts; Windows app only · Windows · checked 30 October 2026
Copilot in Edge at work
The Edge sidebar sums up the page or PDF you're on and, with permission, reads across your open tabs.
Use it for: Pull the deadlines and requirements out of a long tender PDF.
Beginner Any work account signed in to Edge · Edge · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Using Microsoft Copilot in Edge at work (Microsoft Support); Copilot in Edge (Microsoft Learn); New updates to Edge across desktop and mobile (Microsoft Edge Blog, 13 May 2026)
Record in the phone app
Records up to 120 minutes and gives you a transcript and summary in chat. It doesn't notify anyone for you.
Use it for: Get notes from a customer meeting without scribbling, after everyone agrees.
Beginner A Copilot licence, with Record not turned off by your admin · Phone · checked 30 October 2026
Privacy and safety
Delete your Copilot activity history
Clears your Copilot prompts and replies across Microsoft 365 apps in one go. Your company's logs may still keep a record.
Use it for: Clear old chats after a project ends.
Beginner Any work account · Web · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Delete your Microsoft 365 Copilot activity history (Microsoft Support)
Create
Posters, banners and images in Create
Makes images, posters and banners from a description, with a style you pick and an editor to refine them.
Use it for: Make a Christmas deadlines poster for the trade counter without a designer.
Intermediate Any work account; some kinds need a licence or admin setting · Web, Desktop, Phone · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Get started with Create in the Microsoft Copilot app (Microsoft Support); Copilot Create video tutorials (Microsoft Support)
Infographics in Create
Turns information you describe into an infographic, starting from Microsoft's samples.
Use it for: Explain the new ordering steps to customers on one page.
Intermediate Any work account; some kinds need a licence or admin setting · Web, Desktop, Phone · checked 30 October 2026
Teams
Facilitator in Teams meetings
An agent that keeps shared live notes in a Loop page, logs decisions and open questions, and runs an agenda timer in scheduled meetings.
Use it for: Live notes and actions for a weekly ops meeting, without anyone taking minutes.
Intermediate Microsoft 365 Copilot licence to turn on; colleagues view without one · Teams, Desktop, Web · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Facilitator in Microsoft Teams meetings (Microsoft Support)
Ask Copilot during or after a meeting
A private Copilot pane answers questions about what's been said. Afterwards, ask from the meeting chat if the meeting was transcribed.
Use it for: Ask where people disagree, catch up after joining late, or find what a missed meeting means for you.
Intermediate Microsoft 365 Copilot licence · Teams, Desktop, Web · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Catch up on meetings with Microsoft Copilot in Teams (Microsoft Support)
Organiser's Copilot and transcription setting
Choose During and after the meeting (needs transcription), Only during the meeting (no transcript), or Off.
Use it for: Let absent colleagues ask questions afterwards, or keep a sensitive meeting free of transcripts.
Intermediate Any organiser can set it; using Copilot needs a licence · Teams · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Catch up on meetings with Microsoft Copilot in Teams (Microsoft Support); Use Copilot without transcribing or recording a Teams meeting or call (Microsoft Support)
Intelligent recap and recap translation
An AI summary, speakers and timeline markers for a recorded or transcribed meeting, with a translate button since August 2026.
Use it for: Catch up on a client call you missed, in your own language.
Intermediate Teams Premium or a Microsoft 365 Copilot licence · Teams, Desktop, Phone · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Recap in Microsoft Teams (Microsoft Support); What's new in Microsoft Copilot, August 2026 (Microsoft Tech Community)
Summarise a Teams chat or channel thread
Catch up on a chat or thread, ask who said what, and jump to Sources. 30-day default look-back; text only.
Use it for: Get back up to speed on a customer chat after days on the road.
Intermediate Copilot in Teams; Microsoft's page doesn't name the licence · Teams, Desktop, Web · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: How to use Microsoft Copilot in Teams chats and channels (Microsoft Support)
Rewrite with Copilot in Teams
Rewrite a message before or after sending, or adjust its length and style.
Use it for: Turn a rushed reply typed in a car park into something you'd send a colleague.
Beginner Copilot in Teams; Microsoft's page doesn't name the licence · Teams, Desktop, Web, Phone · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Rewrite and adjust your messages with Copilot in Microsoft Teams (Microsoft Support)
Copilot Chat inside Teams
The Copilot app inside Teams, at the top of the chat list, for catch-ups and drafting messages from scratch.
Use it for: 'Catch up on unread chats' first thing on a Monday.
Beginner Copilot Chat in Teams · Teams, Desktop, Web · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Start a conversation with Microsoft Copilot Chat in Teams (Microsoft Support); What's new in Microsoft Copilot, September 2026 (Microsoft Tech Community)
Excel
Allow editing, Plan and Chat only in Excel
Three modes: Copilot edits directly, shows a plan and waits, or only answers. Stop pauses it at any time.
Use it for: Plan a clean-up of a payments file and approve it before anything changes.
Intermediate Microsoft 365 Copilot (Basic) or Premium · Excel, Desktop, Web · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Get started with Copilot in Excel (Microsoft Support); Copilot in Excel tutorial for screen reader users (Microsoft Support); FAQ about Copilot in Excel (Microsoft Support)
Formulas and lookups with Copilot in Excel
Ask for formula columns, single-cell formulas and lookups such as XLOOKUP, or have a formula explained.
Use it for: Add each supplier's payment terms from another sheet without writing the lookup.
Intermediate Microsoft 365 Copilot (Basic) or Premium · Excel, Desktop, Web · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Get data insights with Copilot in Excel (Microsoft Support)
Highlight, sort, filter and format
Copilot applies conditional formatting, highlighting, sorting and filtering from a plain request.
Use it for: Highlight unpaid invoices past their due date.
Intermediate Microsoft 365 Copilot (Basic) or Premium · Excel, Desktop, Web · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Visualize your data with Copilot in Excel (Microsoft Support); Get started with Copilot in Excel (Microsoft Support)
Charts and PivotTables from a request
Copilot builds charts and PivotTables that link back to your data, so they refresh normally.
Use it for: A PivotTable of totals due per supplier for the payment run.
Intermediate Microsoft 365 Copilot (Basic) or Premium · Excel, Desktop, Web · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Visualize your data with Copilot in Excel (Microsoft Support); Copilot in Excel tutorial for screen reader users (Microsoft Support)
Python in Edit with Copilot
Since 25 August 2026, Copilot can run Python for statistics, simulations and charts, with results in the workbook.
Use it for: A sales forecast with a chart, without writing code.
Advanced Microsoft 365 Copilot (Basic) or Premium · Excel, Desktop, Web · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Release notes for Microsoft 365 Copilot (Microsoft Learn)
Show Changes and change history
Copilot's edits are tagged in Show Changes, its replies link to each change, and you can ask who changed what over up to 365 days.
Use it for: Check every change Copilot made before the payment run.
Intermediate Microsoft 365 Copilot (Basic) or Premium · Excel, Desktop, Web · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Release notes for Microsoft 365 Copilot (Microsoft Learn); Review the change history of your workbook with Copilot in Excel (Microsoft Support); Copilot in Excel tutorial for screen reader users (Microsoft Support)
COPILOT() function (retired)
The =COPILOT() formula stopped working on 14 September 2026. Old results stay until recalculation, then show #NAME?.
Use it for: Replace old =COPILOT() cells before they break a report.
Intermediate Retired Was a Frontier and Insider preview · Excel · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: COPILOT function (Microsoft Support)
PowerPoint
Create a deck from a prompt or Word file
Copilot builds a presentation from a description or a Word document, asks clarifying questions, and adds slides on request.
Use it for: Turn a two-page proposal into an 8-slide pitch.
Intermediate Microsoft 365 Copilot (Basic) or Premium · PowerPoint, Desktop, Web · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Create a new presentation with Copilot in PowerPoint (Microsoft Support); Add a slide with Copilot (Microsoft Support)
Select brand and Brand Kit
Build decks with your company's approved templates, logos and fonts, kept to approved layouts.
Use it for: A pitch that looks like Harbour Lane made it, with no font fixing.
Intermediate Microsoft 365 Copilot licence · PowerPoint, Desktop, Web · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Create a new presentation with Copilot in PowerPoint (Microsoft Support); Edit with Copilot in PowerPoint (Microsoft Support); What's new in Microsoft Copilot, August 2026 (Microsoft Tech Community)
Use an attached deck's style
Since 27 October 2026 on Windows and web, attach a deck to apply its theme and styles, or an image to include it.
Use it for: Make this quarter's pitch look like last spring's.
Intermediate Microsoft 365 Copilot (Basic) or Premium · PowerPoint, Desktop, Web · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Release notes for Microsoft 365 Copilot (Microsoft Learn)
Speaker notes with Copilot
Generate speaker notes for one slide or the whole deck; best under 50 slides.
Use it for: Notes to present from after building a deck the night before.
Beginner Microsoft 365 Copilot (Basic) or Premium · PowerPoint, Desktop · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Add speaker notes to your presentations using Copilot (Microsoft Support)
Summarise a presentation
Get a summary, the main slides or action items from a deck of up to about 40,000 words.
Use it for: Understand a 40-slide supplier deck before a call.
Beginner Microsoft 365 Copilot (Basic) or Premium · PowerPoint, Desktop · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Summarize your presentation with Copilot in PowerPoint (Microsoft Support)
PowerPoint skills
Ready-made jobs such as Prepare for Questions and Sharpen slide titles, plus custom skills admins can publish.
Use it for: Find the question your deck doesn't answer before the client asks it.
Intermediate Microsoft 365 Copilot licence · PowerPoint, Desktop, Web · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Brand Kit and Skills in Copilot in PowerPoint (Microsoft Tech Community, 14 September 2026); Edit with Copilot in PowerPoint (Microsoft Support); What's new in Microsoft Copilot, September 2026 (Microsoft Tech Community)
Translate a presentation
Since August 2026, translation lives in Copilot in PowerPoint, not the ribbon. Microsoft's step page has changed, so check your screen.
Use it for: A French version of a pitch for a customer's head office.
Intermediate Microsoft 365 Copilot (Basic) or Premium · PowerPoint, Desktop · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: What's new in Microsoft Copilot, August 2026 (Microsoft Tech Community); Translate files in Copilot Chat (Microsoft Support)
Pages and Notebooks
Edit in Pages
Turn a chat answer into an editable page that opens beside the chat, so you and colleagues can keep working on it.
Use it for: Turn a draft leave policy into one page HR and the managing director edit together.
Intermediate Work accounts with OneDrive or SharePoint storage, no Copilot licence needed · Web, Desktop, Phone · checked 31 October 2026
Draft page or code
Start a page from scratch in a new chat instead of from an answer.
Use it for: Start a supplier comparison page the team fills in over a week.
Intermediate Work accounts with OneDrive or SharePoint storage, no Copilot licence needed · Web, Desktop, Phone · checked 31 October 2026
Share a page: Copy link or Copy component
Send a link to just the page, or paste a live copy into Teams, Outlook or OneNote that updates as people edit.
Use it for: Put a live pricing page in the sales team's Teams chat.
Intermediate Work accounts; guests can't open shared pages from a link · Web, Desktop, Teams, Outlook, Onenote · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Share a Copilot page (Microsoft Support); Permissions for Copilot Pages and Notebooks (Microsoft Learn)
Library
One place for content Copilot made, such as pages and images, plus items shared with you.
Use it for: Reopen yesterday's draft page without hunting through chats.
Beginner Work accounts · Web, Desktop · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Get started with Copilot Library (Microsoft Support); Get started with Copilot Pages (Microsoft Support)
Turn a page into a Word document
Export a finished page as a Word document or a PDF to format and send it.
Use it for: Turn an agreed policy page into a formatted Word document for the staff handbook.
Intermediate Work accounts with Pages · Web, Word · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Convert your Copilot pages to Word or PowerPoint files (Microsoft Support)
Copilot Notebooks
A project space where you add files, emails, meetings and links, and chat answers only from those, using up to 300 files.
Use it for: Keep a policy rewrite's old policy, legal update and staff questions together for weeks.
Intermediate Copilot or Copilot Chat licence plus OneDrive or SharePoint; Teams and SharePoint sources need the paid licence · Web, Desktop, Phone, Onenote · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Get started with Copilot Notebooks (Microsoft Support); How Copilot Notebooks works (Microsoft Support)
Notebook audio overview
A spoken summary of a notebook's references, in eight languages, that you can play, speed up or save to OneDrive.
Use it for: Listen to a summary of a project's documents on the way to a meeting.
Intermediate Work or school accounts only · Web, Desktop, Onenote · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Get an audio overview of your Copilot notebook (Microsoft Support)
Share a notebook
Invite colleagues to a notebook. They're invited to its linked files where you can share them, and each person's chats stay private.
Use it for: Give a colleague the same sources for a joint project.
Intermediate Work accounts; no guest sharing · Web, Desktop · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: How to share a Copilot notebook (Microsoft Support); Permissions for Copilot Pages and Notebooks (Microsoft Learn)
Search
Copilot Search
Find emails, files, chats and meetings by describing them in plain words, with a short AI answer above the results.
Use it for: Find the supplier email about a credit when you only remember roughly what it said.
Intermediate Microsoft 365 Copilot (Premium) · Web, Desktop, Phone · checked 31 October 2026
Work IQ on or off
Choose whether Chat answers from your work mail, files, meetings and chats as well as the web. It's on by default.
Use it for: Switch work data off for a general question about rules in another country.
Intermediate Microsoft 365 Copilot (Premium) · Web, Desktop, Phone · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Get started with Copilot Chat (Microsoft Support); What is Microsoft Copilot? (Microsoft Learn)
Change data sources
Switch individual sources off for a chat, such as Teams messages, while keeping the rest.
Use it for: Ask about a supplier using only email and files, not chat messages.
Intermediate Microsoft 365 Copilot (Premium) · Web, Desktop · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Control and review sources in Copilot Chat (Microsoft Support)
Researcher and Analyst
Researcher
Multi-step research across your work data and the web that ends in a cited report. Takes from a few minutes to 45.
Use it for: Pull competitors, customer comments and market sources together before a decision on a new market.
Intermediate Microsoft 365 Copilot licence; 25 queries per user per month · Web, Desktop, Phone · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Get started with Researcher (Microsoft Support); Researcher FAQ (Microsoft Learn)
Analyst
Ask questions of Excel, CSV and other data files and get insights, charts and tables, with steps you can expand.
Use it for: Find trends and outliers in two years of order exports.
Intermediate Microsoft 365 Copilot (Premium) · Web, Desktop · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Get started with Analyst (Microsoft Support); Analyst agent in Microsoft 365 Copilot (Microsoft Tech Community, 2025)
Agents
Add an agent from All agents
Browse Microsoft's agents and your company's approved ones, read who built each, and add it to your left pane.
Use it for: Add Writing Coach before replying to an unhappy customer.
Advanced Microsoft's agents need a Copilot licence; admins decide what's available · Web, Desktop · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Get started with agents in the Copilot app (Microsoft Support); Agent Store in Microsoft 365 Copilot (Microsoft Learn); Get started with Frontier (Microsoft Learn)
Microsoft's coach agents
Optional agents from Microsoft: Writing Coach for tone, grammar and style, plus Prompt Coach, Idea Coach, Learning Coach and Career Coach.
Use it for: Get tone advice on a firm letter without changing its facts.
Advanced With a Microsoft Copilot subscription · Web, Desktop · checked 31 October 2026
Call agents and skills inside a prompt
Microsoft's September 2026 notes say type / for agents and @ for skills. Some pages still show @AgentName, so check your screen.
Use it for: Bring Researcher into a chat you've already started.
Advanced Not stated · Web, Desktop · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: What's new in Microsoft Copilot, September 2026 (Microsoft Tech Community); Researcher FAQ (Microsoft Learn)
Share an agent link
Copy a link to an agent you use so a colleague can open it.
Use it for: Send a colleague the coach you've found useful.
Advanced The person needs access and a licence that covers the agent · Web, Desktop · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Get started with agents in the Copilot app (Microsoft Support)
Agent Builder
Build an agent without code by describing it or filling in the Configure tab: instructions up to 8,000 characters, knowledge and starter prompts. Not on mobile.
Use it for: An IT help agent that answers from the company's IT guides.
Advanced Instructions and public-web agents for everyone; work-data agents need pay-as-you-go billing or the licence · Web, Desktop, Teams · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Build agents with Agent Builder (Microsoft Learn); Agent Builder (Microsoft Learn)
Agent knowledge sources
Point an agent at up to 100 SharePoint files, 50 OneDrive files, 20 uploads and 4 public websites. 'Only use specified sources' prefers them but doesn't fully block other knowledge.
Use it for: Ground an agent in three IT guides rather than the whole web.
Advanced SharePoint, connectors and uploads need billing or the licence; email, people and Teams need the licence · Web, Desktop, Teams · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Add knowledge to an Agent Builder agent (Microsoft Learn); Agent licensing and prerequisites (Microsoft Learn)
Share your agent: Can edit or Can chat
Share an agent you built with people or groups as users or owners, or org-wide if your admin allows it.
Use it for: Give licensed staff use of an IT agent while one colleague helps maintain it.
Advanced Recipients need a licence covering the agent's capabilities · Web, Desktop, Teams · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Share and manage Agent Builder agents (Microsoft Learn)
Copy an agent to Copilot Studio
Move an Agent Builder agent into Copilot Studio when it needs actions, workflows, versions or analytics. Uploads, connectors, Teams and email knowledge don't carry over.
Use it for: Let an IT agent log helpdesk tickets in another system.
Advanced Copilot Studio licence or Microsoft 365 Copilot licence, plus the Dataverse entitlement · Web · checked 30 October 2026
Cowork
Copilot Cowork
Carries out multi-step work for you: sends email, schedules meetings, builds Office and PDF files, posts in Teams. You approve each action.
Use it for: Turn a week of delivery emails into a Teams update you read and approve.
Advanced Microsoft 365 Copilot licence plus usage-based billing (Copilot Credits), with an admin spending policy that includes you · Web, Desktop, Phone, Outlook, Teams · checked 31 October 2026
Sources: Copilot Cowork (Microsoft Learn); Get started with Copilot Cowork (Microsoft Learn); Use Copilot Cowork (Microsoft Learn)
Cowork approvals
Approve one action, stop asking for similar ones this session, approve everything waiting, or cancel. Undo choices under Permissions.
Use it for: Approve one customer email after reading it, rather than letting a batch go unread.
Advanced Microsoft 365 Copilot licence plus usage-based billing (Copilot Credits), with an admin spending policy that includes you · Web, Desktop, Phone · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Use Copilot Cowork (Microsoft Learn); Responsible AI FAQ for Copilot Cowork (Microsoft Learn)
Cowork skills
14 built-in skills, from Word and Email to Deep Research, plus up to 50 of your own. Custom skills aren't validated by Microsoft.
Use it for: Save the steps of your weekly report as a skill so Cowork follows them each time.
Advanced Microsoft 365 Copilot licence plus usage-based billing (Copilot Credits), with an admin spending policy that includes you · Web, Desktop · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Use Copilot Cowork (Microsoft Learn); Copilot Cowork FAQ (Microsoft Learn)
Cowork plugins
Add connectors and role skills to Cowork, such as Sales, Service, Education and Legal. Admin-deployed plugins appear on their own.
Use it for: Connect a service your team uses so Cowork can draw on it.
Advanced Microsoft 365 Copilot licence plus usage-based billing (Copilot Credits), with an admin spending policy that includes you · Web, Desktop, Phone · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Plugins in Copilot Cowork (Microsoft Learn); What's new in Cowork: expanded plugins and role-based skills (Microsoft Tech Community)
Cowork Automations
Run a Cowork task on a schedule, up to 25, or when an email, Teams channel message or chat message arrives. Sends and posts wait for approval by default.
Use it for: Draft the Friday ops update at 3pm every week, ready for you to read.
Advanced Microsoft 365 Copilot licence plus usage-based billing (Copilot Credits), with an admin spending policy that includes you · Web, Desktop · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Use Copilot Cowork (Microsoft Learn); Copilot Cowork admin and governance (Microsoft Learn)
Cowork effort levels and /cost
Pick effort from Light to Max (Medium is the default); more effort is slower and uses more credits. Type /cost for an estimate of credits used.
Use it for: Keep a short weekly task on Medium and check what it uses after the first runs.
Advanced Microsoft 365 Copilot licence plus usage-based billing (Copilot Credits), with an admin spending policy that includes you · Web, Desktop · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Models and effort levels in Copilot Cowork (Microsoft Learn); Check Copilot Credits with /cost (Microsoft Learn)
Previews
Frontier early access
Microsoft's early-access programme for Copilot previews. Off by default; an admin enrols everyone or chosen people. Features may change or be withdrawn.
Use it for: Give one test seat early access so IT can try previews before the team relies on them.
Advanced Admin enrolment; a Copilot licence isn't needed to enrol but is needed for Copilot features · Admin, Web, Desktop · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Get started with Frontier (Microsoft Learn); Frontier expands to more Microsoft 365 public previews (Microsoft Tech Community)
Home in Copilot
One start screen that puts Chat and Cowork together. Announced on 25 September 2026, rolling out through Frontier.
Use it for: Start a question or a task from the same place.
Advanced Preview Frontier preview, enrolled by your admin; Copilot features need a Copilot licence · Web, Desktop · checked 30 October 2026
Today
A proactive command centre across mail, calendar, Teams, meetings and tasks. Microsoft said it would enter private preview in October; it hasn't confirmed that it has.
Use it for: See what needs you today across mail, meetings and tasks.
Advanced Preview Private preview (announced) · Web, Desktop · checked 30 October 2026
Copilot Code
Build small apps by describing them, then iterate on a preview and publish. Frontier only.
Use it for: Prototype a simple campaign tracker without writing code.
Advanced Preview Frontier preview with usage-based billing and a Copilot licence · Web, Desktop · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Copilot Code (Microsoft Learn); Introducing the new Copilot with Home, Code and Autopilot (Official Microsoft Blog, 25 September 2026)
Autopilot (formerly Scout)
A background agent with its own identity, permissions and audit trail. Renamed from Scout on 25 September 2026; in private preview.
Use it for: Hand longer-running background work to an agent your admin manages.
Advanced Preview Private preview, managed by admins · Web, Desktop · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Introducing the new Copilot with Home, Code and Autopilot (Official Microsoft Blog, 25 September 2026); From pilots to programs (Microsoft Tech Community, 23 October 2026)
Office in Copilot
Edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint files inside the Copilot app, in Chat and Cowork. Files save to OneDrive and appear in Library.
Use it for: Tidy a draft deck next to the chat that wrote it.
Advanced Preview Frontier customers · Web, Desktop · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Introducing Office in the new Microsoft Copilot app (Microsoft Tech Community)
@Copilot in Teams
Copilot with shared context for a channel, group chat or meeting. Announced for private preview by the end of September; current state not confirmed.
Use it for: Ask Copilot a question the whole channel can see the answer to.
Advanced Preview Private preview (announced) · Teams · checked 30 October 2026
Browse with Copilot in Edge
Copilot carries out steps on web pages for you. It pauses for passwords and card numbers and asks before sensitive actions.
Use it for: Fill in a routine web form while you watch.
Advanced Preview Work: limited opt-in preview requested by IT, with a Copilot licence, not in the EEA; consumer: Microsoft 365 Premium, US only · Edge · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Using Microsoft Copilot in Edge at work (Microsoft Support); New in Edge for Business (Microsoft Edge Blog, 20 May 2026)
Admin and access
Admin settings that change your Copilot
Web search, image generation, which agents you can add, Anthropic models (off by default in the EU, EFTA and UK) and Frontier are each switched by your admin.
Use it for: Work out why a colleague sees something you don't before you ask IT.
Advanced Set by your Microsoft 365 admin · Admin · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Configure Copilot in the Microsoft 365 admin center (Microsoft Learn); Connect to AI subprocessors (Microsoft Learn); Get started with Frontier (Microsoft Learn); What Copilot license do I have? (Microsoft Support)
Spending policies for credit features
A spending policy is what switches on Cowork and other credit-based features, for everyone or chosen groups. Without one that includes you, they stay hidden.
Use it for: Get Cowork for one team without turning it on for the whole firm.
Advanced Microsoft 365 Copilot licence plus usage-based billing (Copilot Credits), with an admin spending policy that includes you · Admin · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Copilot Cowork admin and governance (Microsoft Learn); Request access to usage-based billing experiences (Microsoft Learn); Manage Copilot Credits (Microsoft Learn)
Staying current
Microsoft's monthly 'What's new' and release notes
A monthly roundup on the Copilot Blog, mixing GA and preview items, plus release notes on Microsoft Learn listing GA features by date.
Use it for: Spend twenty minutes a month finding what's new and what your team can use.
Advanced Free to read · Web · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Microsoft Copilot Blog (Microsoft Tech Community); Release notes for Microsoft 365 Copilot (Microsoft Learn)
Microsoft AI at Work Roadmap
Microsoft's list of planned and rolling-out features, each with status In development, Rolling out or Launched and phase Preview or GA. Dates often slip.
Use it for: Check whether a feature you've heard about is out yet before planning around it.
Advanced Free to read · Web · checked 30 October 2026
Sources: Microsoft AI at Work Roadmap (Microsoft Learn); Microsoft AI at Work Roadmap (Microsoft)